Most grandparents are known for constantly spoiling their grandchildren, but it doesn’t just have to be grandparents; it’s aunts, uncles, moms, dads, family friends, cousins, etc. Maybe they simply buy their family member a new outfit, a gift card to their favorite store, or take them out to dinner.

But, sometimes those around you and your peers take it entirely the wrong way. You are looked at as being spoiled simply because people give you gifts. Maybe it’s jealousy or maybe it’s true, but someone should not judge another person based on what they have.

My grandparents do buy me , all the time, but does that make me spoiled or deserving? Do I deserve such nice material items or am I simply lucky? I know that they love me and they feel that buying me gifts is what proves their love to me, but I believe that simply talking to them on the phone or going out to lunch is more than enough for me.

In high school, people always ask you, “Oh! Where did you buy your shoes? I can’t believe you have the new MacBook! Nice car, did you buy it yourself?” I simply respond by saying my grandmother bought it for me the other day. If it is near my birthday or a holiday, I use that as a reason. Otherwise, I receive the response of “She gave you another $100!” As a matter of fact, she did and like any polite person, I refused, but she insisted.

Since middle school, my grandparents told me that once I graduated high school they would buy me a car. Not a Ferrari or a Porsche, but a modest and reasonable vehicle. Since I was in elementary school, the sporty and useful Nissan Xterra has always been my “dream car.”  A couple of years back, I told them about wanting this car and they instantly thought it would be a perfect pick.

Years passed, and a few weeks ago I received a call from my grandfather to tell me he’s been looking at Nissan Xterra’s in North Carolina. He found a 2008 model that was an extremely decent price, looked wonderful inside and out, and that he hoped to test drive the following week. I was in shock because it’s only the beginning of my senior year of high school and I was expecting to have to wait until June, maybe later.

My grandmother and grandfather went to check it out and I now own a 2008, black, 2-wheel drive, Nissan Xterra.

As soon as I told the news to my step-dad, who is not a snobby high school girl, he said, “You are just so spoiled!” I did not even have a single moment to be excited about this because someone instantly jumped to the conclusion that I always get what I want. He later added that he never thought I “didn’t deserve it.” This made me feel better, but furthered my opinion of how society misinterprets the meaning of being spoiled.

I love my grandparents; I treat both of them with the utmost respect and appreciate all that they do for me. I am constantly showered with amazing gifts from them. If I could afford to do the same for them, I would in a heartbeat. But, since I cannot do that, I have done what they have always asked me to do in order to earn this car; I have continued to excel in classes throughout my educational career. Most importantly, I do not treat others or brag to them about my new gifts.

I wish the way people looked at those who are lucky enough to receive such great gifts could be different, but what can I do? I can only hope that people will be excited for me rather than glaring at me from across the room because of who they think I am. Sure, I am head over heels to own my dream car, but we all have to remember the important things in life, such as those who provide us with such great things and the love they carry for us.

Call me spoiled but I am simply ecstatic.